Стража! Стража!

           SomeandClarencearegoingtoshowyouwhatrealguardingisallabout,isn’tthatright?"

           Icouldjustaboutmanageoneofthem,Vimesthoughtashetookafewstepsbackward.Ifhewasfacingtheotherway,atleast.

           Clarenceproppedhisspearagainstthegatewayandspatonhishands.

           Therewasalong,terrifyingululation.Vimeswasamazedtorealiseitwasn’tcomingfromhim.

           Carrotappearedaroundthecorneratadeadrun.Hehadafellingaxeineitherhand.

           Hishugeleathersandalsflappedonthecobblestonesasheboundedcloser,acceleratingallthetime.Andallthetimetherewasthiscry,deedahdeedahdeedah,likesomethingcaughtinatrapatthebottomofatwo-toneechocanyon.

           Thetwopalaceguardsstoodrigidwithastonishment.

           "Ishouldduck,ifIwasyou,"saidVimesfromneargroundlevel.

           ThetwoaxesleftCarrot’shandsandwhirredthroughtheairmakinganoiselikeabraceofpartridges.Oneofthemhitthepalacegate,buryinghalftheheadinthewoodwork.Theotheronehittheshaftofthefirstone,andsplitit.ThenCarrotarrived.

           Vimeswentandsatdownonanearbybenchforawhile,androlledhimselfacigarette.

           Eventuallyhesaid,"Ithinkthat’saboutenough,constable.Ithinkthey’dliketocomequietlynow."

           "Yes,sir.Whataretheyaccusedof,sir?"saidCarrot,holdingonelimpbodyineitherhand.

           "AssaultinganofficeroftheWatchintheexecutionofhisdutyand...oh,yes.Resistingarrest."

           "UnderSection(vii)ofthePublicOrderActof1457?"saidCarrot.

           "Yes,"saidVimessolemnly.